#but him and gilbert are more direct opposites

[goofy-episode]

thinking about how greely and sir gilbert are the only main alphas who wear capes and those capes are clashing colors (purple and red) like how the two characters' personalities tend to clash

#i mean ok greely's personality clashes with everybody cause hes. not very good at being nice #but him and gilbert are more direct opposites #gilberts always by the book and greely has never heard of the book #also this ones prolly more obvious but i love that #greelys cloak is purple like the phantoms whom he studies and is often accused of working with #these guys got very insightful designs man #aj #ajc #jamblr #aj greely #aj sir gilbert #greely #sir gilbert #animal jam #animal jam classic

[per-se-phone-e]

Hound in an alleyway | Damon Salvatore x reader

Warnings: non-con, Damon can't take rejection, p in v sex, oral (male recieving), anal sex, degradation, minors dni!!!

Summary: If you won't give your affections willingly, Damon decided he will have to take it by force.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DARK PIECE, PLEASE INTERACT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Damon Salvatore was a sex god.

He could crack the whip and every girl would chorus, how high? He knew that. You knew that. Everyone did. Never in his one hundred and seventy something years of life had he needed to make an effort to pursue someone as he had done with you.

Most would just come running.

The first time you met him was in a cafeteria with Bonnie and Caroline. You were trying to console the sad blonde. He was the mysterious stranger sitting opposite you. Your eyes had met, only for a moment, before you pulled away.

The second time was in your school ground. You were practicing for the cheer team with your friends when a chevy pulled up into the school's driveway. You remember your eyes nearly falling out of your socket as Caroline got out of the car, placing a kiss on the older man's lips. He sent a wink your way, which you ignored. 

His hand on Caroline's leg in the Gilbert living room had bile rise up in your throat. That was when you found out from Bonnie that he didn't have a good relationship with his brother. And by the fourth time you met, Damon Salvatore had turned from a creep to a pyschopath. 

He had hurt Caroline. Your childhood best friend. Elena's memory might not work as well, but how could you forget? How could you accept any interest he threw your way?

You didn't want him, and it hurt. It hurt him. It made his blood boil. It clouded his senses. What had he done to get your rejection? Damon wanted you, so why couldn't he have you? 

And if you wouldn't willingly accept his affections, then Damon Salvatore would take it by force. 

It felt nothing more than a child's play to lure you into his trap. To follow you into the dark alleyway. You should've know better than to roam around by yourself past midnight. What if some man took advantage of you? Guess you weren't as smart as he thought you were.

He adored the way your eyes welled up when he backed you into a corner. Your lips pouting, spilling out pleas fruitlessly as he tore the clothes from your body. You trembled as he cupped your pussy, plunging a finger into your wet heat — then two, stretching you out.

It belonged to him. You belonged to him.

Your knees dug into the cold concrete as he forced you onto the ground. One hand working his belt open, the other had you by your hair. His thick cock jumped out as his jeans hit the ground, angry red tip dripping precum.

Damon pushed your head down on his cock until your nose was resting snug against the curly hairs at the bottom. He gave a deep groan, feeling the warm embrace of your mouth around his cold cock. You kept your mouth open for him like an obedient whore, letting him fuck your mouth like his personal pocket pussy.

He ignored the way you gaged and choked, bruising a spot at the back of your throat. Spit pooled from the corner of your mouth, dribbling down your chin. "Now be a good girl and suck daddy's balls," he directed you towards the base of his member.

You shook your head no, refusing to meet his eyes. You had never felt so humiliated in your life. Why weren't you trying to get away? Why couldn't you run?

Damon rolled his eyes. "Do you want me to go and drag your pretty little blonde bestfriend here? Or Maybe Elena? I'd love to kill two birds with one stone."

You obeyed at the threat, sucking on his balls, one by one. You teased the little slit between the two, desperate to get it over with. They were heavy against your chin, so full of cum and throbbing. You thrashed against him when you feel him jerk his cock hard and fast above your face. Slapping at his thighs, trying to push him off you. But all your efforts are futile; Thick ropes of cum land on your face, mixing with the tears.

"Good girl. Now turn around," he demanded and you did, pushing down the bile rising in your throat.

In no time, he had you onto your fours. A foot pressed to the back your head, keeping you down on the dirty ground as he entered you. "Shit sweetheart, look at that cunt sqeezing my cock so well," he hummed in approval, pushing out, then pushing in with force.

You could only manage to gasp with each thrust, your knees scraping against the concrete. He started to fuck you relentlessly, pounding your pussy red.

"This is what you wanted, didn't you? To be fucked like a dirty slut? You wanted my cock didn't you?" His hand lands on your ass hard, making you whimper.

"Yes," You yell, feeling his cock deep inside you. You were leaking down your quivering thighs, letting him split you in half like a rag doll. His balls pressed against your clit with each thrust, the sound of slick skin slapping echoing through the silent alleyway.

"Fucking slut," he gritted his teeth, hips pounding into yours at a supernatural speed. Your legs were numb from his assualt, spreading out until you're laying completely against the ground. You felt him soread your cheeks apart, watching his cock disappear and reappear from your abused hole. With a shudder, he spilled his cum inside you, sinking his teeth into your shoulder to contain himself.

When you felt him pull out, you thought it was over. But he wasn't done with you yet. He kept fucking you on the cold concrete — thanks to his vampiric stamina — shooting load after load of his seed into your womb. And when he was bored with your pussy, he'd play with your puckered hole. He would grab your face backwards by your hair and pound you like a bitch while you scream.

Now that he got you, it wouldn't be fair to let you leave so soon, wouldn't it?

#damon salvatore x reader #damon salvatore #the vampire diaries #vampire #smut #dark fantasy #x reader #tvd #sexy content

[drbtinglecannon]

Taking a second to focus on my favorite background bits of this wonderful beautiful gigantic cast picture by Dresden Douglas (their Tumblr is "dresdoodles" give them some love!!! I did not tag them here so I'm not hitting them with a notification full of my stupid observations haha)

Obviously gotta go to Darius & Eber first. Look at the utter disgust upon Darius' face even touching Hooty (or maybe it's directed at Eber for being willing to bite Hooty), meanwhile Eber is bitebiteclawmaim-ing Hooty but despite the claw marks they seem to be ineffective. I wonder how much of Eber's attacking is for his own safety/curiosity vs trying to save his bestie Darius from the Ick™. They're just my favorite "opposites that are besties for life" duo I could talk about these goobers forever

Skara & Viney (& Puddles)! My girls! They're wearing their Emerald Entrails uniforms! Personally I think they're a cute ship but even platonically I love how different they are yet have become their own little duo within the flyer derby team

THE BATTS *hiss*. Katya & Derwin looking at each other & doing the pose like total cuties, meanwhile Amber is making SUCH a face haha. Did anyone else imagine food fanfic chick from s1ep1 would end up fleshed out & important enough to be part of her own little corner of a massive art piece containing most of the show's cast that's hanging in a gallery dedicated to the show?

Gilbert & Harvey Park and Perry Porter, the Dads. So Perry focusing on work still even in this moment is condemnable honestly, dude is tangled in a coil of Hooty & is like "I need to report on this". Meanwhile Harvey has big watery eyes & Gilbert has a soft smile. I love the detail that Gilbert appears to be carrying Harvey, it matches with him being a construction witch (so probably fit) & also it's a funny reflection to Willow with her looking more like Gilbert & also being the Buff™ friend

Mattholomule & his big bro Steve!! Rip Steve this isn't the first time -- or even second time -- Hooty's taken him out, and it probably won't be the last. I love getting the brothers next to each other, helps show how similar they look. Matty is fairing better than Steve but he seems to be struggling himself. That's fair, boys, Hooty is certainly unpredictable

Grandma lesbians made it, good for them

You know that Gwen&Dell are looking at how happy their daughters & grandkids all are, like you know the scene before then is a dream come true kinda soft feeling that they've wanted for their daughters for decades

I love the fond expression on Emira's face looking at Edric, vs the confusion/surprised one on Alador's face. Edric's fine tho look at him he's having fun. Odalia can't even look at her family and is just absolutely scowling, but Kikimora is right beside her so horrible trash women Odalimora canon

You KNOW that Willow fanboy is shouting "WOooOOOooo GO WILLOW" seeing her & Hunter together. I think it's extra funny Boscha is right next to him looking like she's sucked on a lemon with Kat shrugging at Amelia but neither looking surprised by Boscha's antics. (as someone who always hated bos//low it's just such funny staging imo, I know it's probably not that but it's still funny)

#toh #toh spoilers #gallery nucleus #the owl house #darius deamonne #eberwolf the huntsman #toh skara #toh viney #toh katya #toh derwin #toh amber #perry porter #gilbert park #harvey park #toh mattholomule #toh steve #gwendolyn clawthorne #dell clawthorne #emira blight #edric blight #alador blight #odalia blight #toh kikimora #huntlow #toh boscha #i need to make another post thats freaking out about the main group. also i didnt have enough photo space but FREWIN MY BELOVED #tc posts

[yandere-romanticaa]

❝ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐒, 𝐈 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐎. ❞

yandere! gilbert von obsidian x fem! reader.

Soft glimmers of the pale white stars illuminated your path as you wandered aimlessly in the large rose garden, hands pressed firmly against your back and your gaze was locked onto the floor, mind filled to the brim with many different thoughts. Things at the palace were getting out of hand and you were unsure of how to handle them, and the new visitors most certainly were not making things any easier for you. Keeping up with all the quirks of the local nobility was a daunting task but once you had accidentally been caught between the claws of Gilbert von Obsidian, only then did you realize just how messy an outsider could make your life.

❝ You can't stay here forever you know. ❞

Speak of the devil.

Turning around you were met with the man you wanted to see the least, his bright red eye peering deep into your own tired gaze. Gilbert wore his usual friendly smile, his attitude still the same as the first time you met him. He took an odd shining to you, causing him to seek you and your company out only to tease you for every little thing you did and didn't do. It became something of an unwritten rule that no one was allowed to interrupt the two of you if you were alone together, lest the perpetrator wished to suffer a great discomfort at best or a grave injury at worst.

No one ever brought up the latter however. The risk was simply too great.

And there he was in all his dark glory, Gilbert von Obsidian, the crazy man who set his sight on you and refused to give you peace.

You were so tired that your mind didn't even process the fact that Gilbert was now standing directly in front of you, his black, gloved finger lightly playing with your lower lip, his gaze totally focused on you and you alone.

The sheer intensity of his gaze made you feel like shrinking into a tiny dark hole, a stark contrast to his otherwise carefree demeanor. It was clear that Gilbert was actually trying to soothe you in his own weird way but his approach was just so unorthodox that it only caused the opposite effect.

What were you to do with him?

Sensing your distress Gilbert stopped with toying with your soft lips, only to speak once more.

❝ My bunny looks so, so tired. Should I let you rest a little, hm? ❞

Scoffing, you angrily pushed his hand away and turned your back to him. Your blood was starting to boil but you made no move to escape.

He would find you one way or another, he always did.

Gilbert was teasing you, that much was obvious. You were given specific and direct orders to avoid the Obsidian mad lad as much as possible, throw all manners out the window and just book it, if you leave a trail of dust clouds in your steed than so be it. Why, oh why, was the twisted prince so infatuated with you?

That was a question he would ask himself. He can do nothing but indulge, play the role of the bad guy and make your life as silly, albeit twisted as possible. He even toyed with the idea for full on taking you back to Obsidian with him, ah what a pleasant idea.

He might just make it a reality.

#yandere #yandere x reader #yancore #yanderecore #yandere aesthetic #yandere imagines #yandere x you #ikemen prince #ikemen prince headcanons #yandere ikemen prince #ikemen prince gilbert #gilbert von obsidian #yandere ikepri #ikepri gilbert

[queen-dahlia]

𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟲 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

Note: Translation is not 100% accurate. Expect grammatical errors.

// : alternate translation

I wonder when it started.

I no longer feel heartbroken when I see the dead bodies of people.

(You did it with flair.)

The place where I stepped in with the little rabbit in my arms was a cruel sight.

Welcomed by the scent of blood, which cannot be disguised by a sweet and aromatic rose,

The petals that fell to the ground were invaded by a spreading reddish-black liquid.

Standing in the center of it all is a cruel and merciless beast with a white cloak stained red,

I could feel how the little rabbit was trembling in my arms.

(... That's right. The prince you believe in is just another powerful man...)

(He can kill people with impunity like this and not be charged with a crime, just like me.)

(...But it's "dirtier" than I expected...)

The little rabbit is covering her mouth with a pale face.

I felt something like nostalgia at the sight of this.

(I remember I was like this in the beginning too.)

Gilbert: "How are you feeling, little bunny?"

Emma: "... I'm fine."

Gilbert: "Really? Well, it's not something you have to look at. It's dirty, so let's not go near it."

(The more you think of others as yourself, the bigger the reaction is.)

(...Well, I knew that, and I brought you here...)

As I secretly chuckled at the trembling little rabbit, a familiar face appeared from the shadows of the pavilion.

Clavis: "Well, well, well, Lord Gilbert. Aren't you tormenting our little rabbit too much?"

Clavis: "I never thought you'd bring her to a place like this."

Gilbert: "Ahaha, I'm sorry about that. I only brought the little rabbit here because she was looking for Chevalier."

Clavis: "Well, how did you know my brother was here?"

Gilbert: "I saw Chevalier not too long ago."

It's not a lie.

This morning, I left the little rabbit "to check a certain place," which had nothing to do with the current situation,

But when I returned to the court, Chevalier went out to the garden in the opposite direction.

Since I have every person's movements in my head, I can easily predict what will happen next…

Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I hurriedly secured the little rabbit, and here we are.

(Clavis is obviously suspicious of me. I'm sure he thinks I'm the one who put this together.)

However, it is not irrelevant.

There are many who are hostile toward Chevalier, and if you mislead them with just a few words, they will quickly take shortcuts like this.

(It's not a smart move to hire assassins and have them attack him easily, but...)

(I guess it is inevitable since the "anti-monarchy" is not professional in this field.)

I had thought that if one of the seeds sprouted and flowered, I would show it to the little rabbit someday.

In that sense, it was as good as done.

Without uttering a single word, Chevalier wipes away the blood and sheathes his sword.

For him, it's an everyday occurrence.

Gilbert: "Chevalier, the little rabbit wanted to see you."

Chevalier: ". . . . . ."

His icy blue eyes, which had lost their temperature, conveyed the fright of the little rabbit.

Emma: "... You seem to be busy, so I'll come back on a different day."

Chevalier: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier turned away and left without a word.

(Well, what will the little rabbit do after this?)

(Will you try to approach him, knowing that he has a ruthless and cruel side, or will you walk away from him?)

(Will you continue to believe in the goodness of people like I used to, or will you fall into distrust?)

I can't help but look forward to the little rabbit's choice.

Clavis: "I must apologize for showing the young lady something she shouldn't have seen. --Cyril."

Clavis beckons one of the knights who was disposing of the body.

The knight with flamboyant red hair is a former soldier from Obsidian's military training facility.

(I haven't seen you in a while, but I'm glad to see you're doing well.)

Clavis: "It's almost dinner time. Prepare a feast for Lord Gilbert."

Gilbert: "No way, are you trying to separate me from the little bunny?"

Clavis: "Oh. You're a bit too much of a distraction, or a bit too much of a presence, to comfort the young lady."

Clavis: "The young lady would be more than happy to be alone with me, wouldn't she?"

Gilbert: "I don't think so. She would be so lonely to be separated from me that she might cry."

Emma: "I won't be lonely, I'll be fine."

Gilbert: "Do you know the word "flattery"?"

Emma: "... I'm afraid that Prince Gilbert might not like it better if I say something I don't truly mean."

Gilbert: "Heh... correct. You're smart."

(While some people never learn, the little rabbit is very honest.)

Gilbert: "Oh well. I don't know what kind of mischief Clavis is up to, but I'm hungry."

(… He's a gentleman, so I'm sure he will take care of the little rabbit.)

(It's something I can't do, so I'll leave it to him here.)

Gilbert: "I'll torment your knight, so return the little rabbit as soon as possible, okay?"

Cyril: "…Goodbye, my peace."

Just before I put the little rabbit down on the ground, I gave her a malicious look in retaliation for choosing Clavis over me.

Gilbert: "Be careful not to let Clavis bully you."

Gilbert: "He's more dangerous than I am, you know?"

(In many ways.)

The little rabbit's expression stiffens, and I can't help but laugh.

Perhaps she should have taken this warning seriously.

(No, I'm serious.)

(It's probably physical labor now. I can pretty much guess that’s how Clavis comforts people.)

(Hang in there, little rabbit.)

══════════════════

Cyril: "—I don't understand Prince Gilbert."

On the way to the dining room after parting with the little rabbit, Cyril, who was leading the way, suddenly spoke.

Gilbert: "Oh, you mean what I'm thinking about right now? The next evil plan, of course."

Gilbert: "I'll be in the pit after this, so I might as well get an invitation to the soirée in exchange for it..."

Gilbert: "How am I going to kill—oh, no, I mean punish—that noblewoman who hurt the little rabbit's leg?"   //   "How shall I kill that noblewoman who hurt the little rabbit's leg—oh no, how shall I chastise her?"

Cyril: "…Please don't cause any trouble."

Gilbert: "Ahaha, you say useless things, don't you?"

Cyril: "Or rather, I don't mean that... I want to know what Prince Gilbert is up to."

(I know.)

A competent ex-soldier knows too well what the Obsidian royal family is like.

It is natural to be wary of unreadable malice.

(I have only one goal—I want the little rabbit.)

Not in the sense of the word.

(I want to defile and corrupt her pure and beautiful heart and "make her sympathize with me.")

(No, if she wants to go straight at me without empathy, that's fine.)

(I want to expose her to malice, isolate her, and then see what she chooses to do.)

I "want" in that sense, but it is not something I would say to a knight of an enemy country.

Gilbert: "I'm not going to tell a traitor anything."

Cyril: "I know..."

Gilbert: "Hmm."

(I can't wait to get my hands on Little Bunny.)

#サイバード #イケメン王子 #ギルベルト=フォン=オブシディアン #ikemen prince #ikemen prince gilbert von obsidian #ikemen prince gilbert #ikeprince #ikeprince gilbert von obsidian #ikeprince gilbert #gilbert von obsidian #ikeprince jp #ikepri jp #ikeprince translation #ikepri gilbert route spoilers #ikemen prince spoilers #ikeprince spoilers #ikepri spoilers #dahlia's bad translation

[tanmono]

GILBERT VON OBSIDIAN MAIN ROUTE....

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

translations are not 100% accurate. expect mistakes.

minors and ageless blogs dni.

The beast said what he wanted to say and released me from the hideout.

Knowing that a harsh reality awaits me when I return to the court.

Clavis: No, it was the right thing to send the knight to pick you up.

Clavis: I didn't expect more than a dozen people trying to reach you in the morning.

Nokto: Maybe it's the first and last time you'll be popular in your life. Congratulations.

Emma:…..I’m not happy.

(I should have just started my day, but I'm tired.)

━━FLASHBACK━━

Nobleman:….How selfish. Even if that was Prince Chevalier's policy the other day, it's impossible.

Nobleman: Do you intend to repeat the same tragedy like Prince Yves? …..deplorable.

Noblewoman: I never thought that woman who had a private affair with Obsidian would walk around the court with dignity.

Noblewoman: What kind of nerve does it take to fall in love with a man who doesn't know her place?

━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━

(I tried to defend myself to various people that this was a misunderstanding. But they didn't believe me at all.)

The thorny emotions only stab me one-sidedly, and they don't listen to me.

I was trapped in an environment that was worse than before, and I was blocked in all directions.

(In the court, there are many people who have a strong dislike of Obsidians than the city...)

(I guess it reflects the princes' way of thinking that "reconciliation is impossible".)

Clavis: Haha, don't look so gloomy. You haven't done anything wrong, have you?

Clavis: It's just right to imitate Lord Gilbert's boldness, laugh refreshingly and pass it off.

Nokto: Yes, yes. Even King highness would say, "So what?"

Nokto: You are the king's direct subordinate, so you should be strong.

Clavis: A rabbit who borrows the authority of a tiger, or a fox?

Nokto: Ahaha, looks tough.

(Even under these circumstances, I see that Prince Nokto and Prince Clavis are still the same.)

I glanced at the large stack of letters on the foreign factor’s office desk.

The letters listed were inquiries about me, and the two seemed to be busy dealing with it.

I'm supposed to be busy with unplanned official duties, but I didn't do anything for him.

(If I hesitate, I'll just make the two of them worry about me….)

Emma:….Thank you. It's true that I'm not guilty, so I have to be dignified about it!

Clavis: Yes, that’s the important part, isn’t it?

Nokto: By the way, this is just an official business. It's not something you should care about.

Clavis: It's rather amusing to see the clear divide between those who are for Obsidian and those who are against it, isn't it?

Clavis: So far, though, it looks like there's a lot of opposition.

Clavis: Obsidian has betrayed Rhodolite once before. It's hard to believe.

Nokto: When I think about it, I wonder which faction King highness is now.

Clavis: He’s a militant. He's not looking to build friendships.

(I see….)

The position of the alliance is the guiding principle of the whole.

If Prince Chevalier does not have the idea of stepping up to Obsidian, then discussions will be extremely difficult.

(......Even if you show friendliness, you’d never know when Obsidian will betray you.)

(A good example is the way Prince Gilbert treats me.)

(I'm sure Prince Chevalier's thinking is rational and solid.)

(Prince Leon would say the same thing about this.)

Even if you understand it, it is difficult to swallow it as long as the shadow of violence flickers.

Clavis: It's not just Chevalier, we're the ones whose position is being questioned right now.

Clavis: Speaking of friendship with Obsidian....the vigorous anti-monarchy faction is likely to invade.

Nokto: But there are anti-monarchy people who think the opposite, right?

Clavis: In their case, "Royalty has made mistakes in judgment before, and we can't trust them to make a second one."

Nokto: I can't believe it got that complicated.

Nokto: ....I mean, was there ever this much distrust of royalty?

Clavis: No..... Except for being instigated by Lord Gilbert, I feel like it's a little too radical these days.

Clavis: The anti-monarchy faction was originally cautious. It is only recently that they have begun to show signs of activity.....

Clavis: Maybe someone is behind all of this?

(.......I don't see how this has anything to do with Prince Gilbert.)

Clavis: No matter how things turn out, the ideal now is to have Lord Gilbert gone from our country.

Clavis: I hope he will return home after the four-parliamentary talks as soon as possible.

(Well in fact......I wonder if it's because of the current Rhodolite.)

(I ended up not being able to do anything…)

My own helplessness became a sense of emptiness and pierced my heart.

Clavis: I was a little curious at times…..

Clavis: What happened to your neck?

(......I knew you'd ask.)

Gently putting my fingers on the bandaged neck.

Emma: It’s a secret.

Clavis: Hoh....does that mean that you want to keep your hot night with Lord Gilbert to yourself?

Emma: Y-You’re wrong!

Nokto: If you have nothing to hide, you can say it, right?

(……What should I do? I could say I was bitten, but somehow I feel embarrassed...)

Clavis: Emma, don't make that face. Even if you have no intention of doing so, you don’t want Lord Gilbert to misunderstand you, do you?

(Uh.)

Nokto: .......You can't be possibly—

Emma: I was just bitten!

(......I ended up saying it after all.)

Clavis: My…..

Nokto: Did you know? A man who bites his woman is very possessive.

Nokto: You might be full of bite marks sooner or later.

Emma:…..I hate that it's possible.

(Even though it still tingles and hurts.)

Every time my neck hurts, I think of Prince Gilbert.

It should have been scary and painful, but in the end, the only feeling left in my heart was sadness.

(As long as he is the real thing, it is a dream come true to compromise.)

(I was thinking about having a conversation with Prince Gilbert….but I realized that I can't even do that unless I turn him back into a person.)

Though I always feel deceived by his fresh and gentle smile.

Prince Gilbert is by no means friendly to me or to Rhodolite.

Whether one likes it or not, the idea of "domination" will probably remain the same.

(Maybe the Emperor is behind this...)

As I unconsciously put strength into my fingers, a hand reaches up behind me and grabs me, pulling me away from my neck.

When I turned around, Cyril, who was standing beside me, shook his head as if he was troubled.

Clavis: Emma, if you're so worried about your neck, the gentle prince will prepare the medicine that works instantly.

Emma: medicine?

Nokto: Despite his looks, he's a professional drug maker who has contributed to numerous medical advances.

Nokto: I don’t know. That’s how I view him.

Clavis: Do I have to tell you twice?

Emma:......I didn't know you were that great.

Clavis: Haha, did you fall in love with me? I'm a guilty man.

Clavis: If things go on like this, I'm afraid Lord Gilbert will become jealous, but...where’s the important guy?

Emma: I don't know. I didn't see him, at least not this morning.

(I usually meet Prince Gilbert at the breakfast table...)

Since we came back together from the hideout, he should be in court.

Nokto: How unusual for him to be around you at all hours of the day, isn't it?

Clavis: In times like this, it's reasonable to assume he’s up to no good.

Emma: I hope not.

Emma:.....By the way, Prince Chevalier isn't here, is he?

(At this time, he would often be in the office.)

Clavis: He's been missing since this morning, too. I went to wake him up, but his room was empty.

Nokto: It's rare for a king to be so active in the morning, isn't it?

Clavis: Oh, where the hell did he go—

Gilbert: That's rare, isn't it?

Chevalier:……..

The sound of shoes echoes in the chapel where the pure air drifts in the early morning.

Prince Gilbert, seated in the front row, crossed his legs without turning around and looked up at the ceiling.

Gilbert: Greetings to the god this early in the morning? Haha, I didn't know you were so religious.

Chevalier:…Nonsense.

With the white cloak fluttering gallantly, he walks down the aisle to the altar.

He sat down on the opposite side of the seat without taking a glance at the man ahead of him and let out a languid breath.

Chevalier: it seems that you are the one who often goes to the chapel.

Gilbert: It's so relaxing to be in an empty space, isn't it?

Gilbert: You see, I don't like people. Sometimes I miss the silence.

Chevalier: Disliking people makes me laugh.

Chevalier:.....I thought for sure you were doing some sort of penance.

Gilbert: Unfortunately, I don't have anything to confess.

Chevalier: I suppose.

Chevalier, who snickered, looks up at the statue of the god that sits in the chapel.

Chevalier:....I'm going to ask you straight. What are you going to do with that?

Gilbert: By "that", you mean little rabbit…right?

Gilbert: I'm thinking of getting her while cherishing her.

There was a firm determination in his fresh, carefree smile that this was already a decision.

Gilbert: Because even if she were to finish her role as Belle, she wouldn't be able to return to the city, would she?

Gilbert: There's probably a rumor going around town right now that the daughter in Akatsuki's bookstore is an Obsidian’s woman...

Gilbert: Even the evil of Obsidian will hear rumors and come to meet the little rabbit with various ideas.

Gilbert: I would be jealous if she got along with other people without my knowledge.

Chevalier:………

His red eye catch Prince Chevalier who soften suddenly.

Gilbert: What's that look on your face?

Chevalier: I just thought it wasn't like you.

Chevalier: As you know, that woman is not a noblewoman.

Gilbert: Oh, so you just admit it.

Chevalier: Because we’re not in a public place.

Chevalier: You are famous for your brutality against authoritarians, but you are also rumored to be merciful to the weakest members of society.

Chevalier: Even if I look back on you in the past...isn't it against your principles to hurt and corner a commoner woman?

Gilbert: Haha, that's just me as a member of the royal family.

Gilbert: Private life is different, you know?

Chevalier: Oh, you mean to tell me that all and any malice towards the rabbit is private matter?

Gilbert: Yes. She has nothing to do with my plans.

Gilbert: You can be there or not. To mess around or not to mess around.

Gilbert: You see, slowly tormenting prey without killing them, right? It's the same thing.

Chevalier: You're not even interested in her position as "Belle"?

Gilbert: Of course I can think of a plan to use it, but it's a bit troublesome to prove that she's Belle.

Gilbert: I don't have a reason to take such a hassle. …….Benitoite and Jade might be different though.

Chevalier:………

The conversation breaks off and a sacred silence returns.

After a moment of searching for something, Gilbert's sigh melted into the air.

Gilbert: You should have understood my purpose from the commotion the other day.

Gilbert: And the reason why I came here.

Chevalier:…..Yes.

Gilbert: Okay? I've known you for a long time, so I'll listen to what you have to say.

Chevalier: Hoh? Then…

Chevalier stands up and quietly draws his sword.

After taking a few steps and drawing a beautiful trajectory, it was blocked by a pitch-black cane.

Chevalier: Can I see that cane of yours?

Gilbert: Eh, no. Why would I lend it to you?

Gilbert, who blocked the sword while sitting still laughed out of place.

In contrast, Chevalier carved a wrinkle between his beautiful eyebrows.

Chevalier: At first I thought it might be a made-up sword, but the position of the cut is unnatural for that.

Chevalier: If it were just a sword to begin with, there would be no need to disguise it. It's not forbidden to wear a sword belt.

Chevalier: And it can't possibly be ordinary cane, either. Because, according to the little rabbit, it has an unnatural weight to it.

Gilbert: What do you think? // Can you guess?

Chevalier: 100 years ahead...no, it's the crystallization of technology that's even further ahead, isn't it?

Chevalier: It's a new type of weapon never seen before on any continent, with the potential to overturn the world.

The "disaster of the world" says nothing.

He passes it off with a fresh smile that shows no signs of breaking down.

Chevalier:…The continent will definitely usher in a new era if it is introduced to the battlefield.

Chevalier: The age of knights is over, and the time will come when common people will fight with weapons.

Chevalier: Obsidian's military development was spectacular, but it seems to have far exceeded my expectations.

Gilbert: Hehe...then why do you think I did something that made you find out about it?

Gilbert: Chevalier, you are an uncertainty. Even if we advance our technology 100 years into the future….

Gilbert: It is the one and only existence that can set up an ingenious plan to overturn it.

Gilbert: I value you. I never underestimated you.

Gilbert: What's the point of me giving you all this information so you can guess?

Chevalier:……..

A small click of the tongue echoes in the chapel.

Gilbert: Yes. Because they've already been prepared.

Gilbert: I just realized it was too late. My piece is on the verge of checkmate.

Gilbert: Rhodolite now has its fangs up....no one has noticed it but you.

Chevalier:.....That seems to be the case. But there are concerns.

Gilbert: What is it?

Chevalier: Why wait for a checkmate?

Chevalier: You are ready. Then, execute it promptly.

Chevalier: Why didn’t you do it?

Gilbert:……..

Chevalier: It's a contradiction, isn't it? Especially if you see me as a risk.

Chevalier: The more time I give you, the less chance you have of winning, and you don't fail to understand that.

Gilbert:….Hehe.

Chevalier: I see... apparently there is a purpose that I have not yet read through.

Frozen icy sea eyes look down at the beast.

Chevalier: Your evil is very reasonable and worthy of the name of the "ever-victorious marshal", but.......

Chevalier: Your own actions are wasteful and filled with contradictions.

Chevalier: I know what you do, but I honestly don't understand what you want to do.

Gilbert: You think I’m kind enough to tell you?

Chevalier: I'd love to hear it out....

Gilbert: What's inside the cane....you don't want to see it yet, do you? It's a bad bet for you.

Chevalier: It wouldn't hurt to take that bet, but I might accidentally kill you.

Chevalier: It's troublesome to keep you alive and troublesome kill to you……

Gilbert: I'm the same way. If I kill the prince of Rhodolite, I'll never get out of here alive, you know?

Gilbert: If you're going to kill me—

Chevalier: You have to figure out a way.

The two of them laugh as the air clashes with the deadly atmosphere.

It was a smile that seemed to be deeply amused, as if no one else could understand it.

Gilbert: Hey, I answered a lot of questions for you, so you can at least give me something in return?

Chevalier:….I’ll listen.

Gilbert: It’s about little rabbit——

Silence returned to the chapel once again.

Chevalier's expression after hearing everything was not bright at all.

Chevalier:…..I hate to say this but…..

Chevalier: The woman you like may be the unhappiest person in the world.

Gilbert: Isn't it obvious? I’m the disaster of the world.

Chevalier: That's one thing, but it's not enough...

Gilbert: Like what?

Chevalier:….No, it was a foolish thought.

As if to say that his business is finished, Chevalier stands up briskly and heads for the doorway.

He pushed open the heavy door without difficulty and stepped out into the blowing wind.

Gilbert: Oh, I almost forgot. On a different note, I have one gift for Rhodolite.

With his back turned, Gilbert spun like he was singing.

Gilbert: Look forward to it, okay......?

Jin: I’ll disturb you.

Emma: Huh, Prince Jin?

While I was helping with official duties in the foreign factor’s office, Prince Jin came in with a package of sweets in one hand.

Jin: Oops, you're here too.

Emma: Yes. I was originally scheduled to help out today.....

Jin: It's rare that the bastard isn't here.

Nokto: Jin is the same as always.

Clavis: Haha, that means being with Emma has being taken for granted. // Haha, that means that being with Emma has become the norm.

Emma: …...I have a headache.

Jin: Stretch your wings while you still can. By the way, have you seen Luke?

(......? Prince Jin, I feel like you have less time than usual.)

Emma: I didn't see him.

Clavis: Me too. It's rare for him to participate in public affairs, is it?

Nokto: Well, but I certainly haven't seen him around lately. I did manage to get him to attend the memorial service, though.

Nokto:.....No, wait. Jin, is that honey sweets?

Jin: Yeah, I asked Yves to make this for me a while ago.

Jin: I've been walking around the castle with this, but I can't see him at all.

Clavis: Oh my…!

Nokto:.....It's an abnormal situation.

Emma: What’s the matter?

(Everyone's eye color suddenly changed....)

Clavis: Luke never misses a hint of honey, no matter how far away it is.

Nokto: Whether he’s on official business or eating, as long as he smells honey, he’ll definitely come.

(O-Oh, so he likes honey that much.)

Aside from Prince Jin and Prince Clavis, even Prince Nokoto has a straight face, so it must be true.

Jin:…..Lately, I've had the feeling that he's been acting strangely.

Jin: I was curious and wanted to hear what he had to say….

Clavis: Oh? I didn't notice anything unusual about it…..

Nokto: Me too. You're thinking too much, aren't you? He might be sleeping somewhere anyway.

Jin: That's fine, but what kind of honey sweets does he want to eat?

Clavis: You're too soft on Luke.

Nokto: That's why Luke is most attached to Jin, right?

(Come to think of it, I haven't seen Luke lately either...)

(I'm pretty sure the last time I saw him, aside from the ceremony…..)

━━FLASHBACK━━

Jin: You're looking a little pale, aren't you?

Luke:….It only looks that way because of the setting sun.

Luke: But if we’re done, let's get out of here.

Emma: Woah, Prince Luke!?

━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━

Luke didn't talk much that day.

Even after getting into the carriage, he seemed to be somewhat lost in thought.

Emma:….Shall I look for Luke, too?

I found myself saying those words.

Jin: But you're having a hard time right now, aren't you?

Clavis: You can't stay in your room just because it's hard.

Clavis: A change of scenery is important. The outside air tastes better when you're depressed, right?

(Prince Clavis….)

Clavis: Cyril, just to be safe, you're coming with me. I mean, you can be Emma’s personal bodyguard from now on.

Cyril: Eh, you don't mind? yay, now I can get away from the troublesome prince for the time being.

Cyril: I'll do my best, so please look forward to it, young lady!

Clavis:……Oi.

(I-I wonder if it's okay that I got the top knight of the foreign faction to escort me...)

(But Cyril looks very happy... I can't say that I'm not afraid of being targeted…..)

Emma: Thank you very much. I will take your words for it…!

Nokto: I think he's the right person for the job. Cyril is a former obsidian soldier, and he knows Gilbert, right?

Emma: Um.

Cyril: I'd say we've known each other, but that was a long time ago.

Cyril: Well, I think I can stand up to Gilbert better than most soldiers.

(.....So, Cyril knows the old Prince Gilbert?)

I'm curious, but right now we should focus more on Luke.

Jin: Sorry, Emma, but we'll have to split up to find him.

Jin: I hope nothing is wrong….

 ▸       [  previous / next ]

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[viatagrinner]

Gilbert von Obsidian. Chapter 6. His Story.

I want to possess Miss Bunny.

My heart no longer aches when I see dead people.

(You did your best.)

The place where I stepped, carrying Miss Bunny, was a cruel sight.

I was greeted by the smell of blood, which could not be fooled by the sweet and fragrant scent, the petals falling to the ground, pouring out a spreading reddish-black liquid.

In the center stood a cruel and merciless beast in a white cloak with red spots, and I could feel Miss Bunny trembling in my arms.

(This is true. Even the prince you believe in is, after all, a powerful man...)

(This is the same as me, who can kill such people without being accused of a crime.)

(Although this is "dirtier" than expected.)

Miss Bunny is holding his mouth with a pale face.

I felt a sense of nostalgia at the sight of her.

(I used to be like this when I first started.)

Gilbert: Miss Bunny, is everything okay?

MC: ....I'm.... okay....Oh...

Gilbert: Really? Well, there's no reason to force yourself to look. It's messy, so let's not go near it.

(The more one can think of others as oneself, the greater the backlash.)

(Well, I brought a companion here, knowing that...)

While I was secretly giggling at the trembling Miss Bunny, a familiar face emerged from the shadows of the pavilion.

Clavis: Well, well, well, Prince Gilbert. Aren't you torturing our Miss Bunny too much?

Clavis: I didn't expect you to bring her to a place like this.

Gilbert: Haha, this is so unexpected. I only brought her here because Miss Bunny said she was looking for Chevalier.

Clavis: Um, how did you know my brother was here?

Gilbert: Because I saw Chevalier the other day.

I'm not lying.

I left Miss Bunny this morning to "check a certain place," which has nothing to do with the present situation, but when I returned to court, Chevalier had gone out into the garden in the opposite direction.

I have every person's movements in my head. I can easily imagine what is going to happen next...

Not wanting to miss such an opportunity, I hurriedly picked up Miss Bunny, and here we are.

(Clavis is obviously suspicious of me. I'm sure he thinks I'm the one who put this whole thing together.)

This does not mean, however, that he is deluded.

There are many people who harbor a grudge against Chevalier, and it is worth it to mislead them even a little, and they will immediately take such shortsighted action.

(That's not a very clever way to hire an assassin to attack him easily. ......)

("Anti-Monarchy" groups are not professionals in this field, and it is not an option.)

I thought that if one of the seeds I planted sprouted and bloomed, I would show it to Miss Bunny someday. In that sense, it was as good as "planted".

Without saying a word, Chevalier wipes away the blood and puts his sword in its scabbard.

This is everyday life for him.

Gilbert: Chevalier, the rabbit wanted to get to you.

Chevalier: ..........

There is fear reflected in Miss Bunny's clear eyes.

MC: Er... You seem to be busy, so I'll change the date.

Chevalier: .........

Chevalier turned away without saying anything.

(Well, I wonder what Miss Bunny will do after that).

(Will you try to approach him, realizing he has a ruthless and cold side, or will you turn away from him?)

(...Will you continue to believe in the goodness of people as you used to, or will you fall into disbelief?)

I can't wait to see what Miss Bunny chooses to do.

Clavis: I owe you an apology for showing the young lady something you shouldn't, ...Cyril.

Clavis summons one of the knights disposing of the corpses.

The knight with flamboyant red hair is a former soldier from Obsidian's military training facility.

(It's been a while since I've seen him, but he seems to be feeling fine.)

Clavis: It's almost dinnertime. Prepare a feast for Lord Gilbert.

Gilbert: No way, are you going to separate me and Miss Bunny?

Clavis: Oh. You're not exactly conducive to comforting a broken-hearted young lady. ....No, you're too much.

Clavis: The young lady would be more than happy to be alone with me, wouldn't she?

Gilbert: That's not true. You'd be so sad to be separated from me, you'd cry.

MC: I'm not alone, so it's okay.

Gilbert: Do you know the word "flattery"?

MC: I think Prince Gilbert would hate me if I said something I didn't mean.

Gilbert: Hmm...you're right. You are clever.

(Some people never learn, but Miss Bunny is a good, honest person.)

Gilbert: Okay. I don't know what mean Clavis is up to, but I'm hungry.

(....He's a gentleman, I'm sure he'll take good care of Miss Bunny.)

(It's not something I could do, so I'll just leave you to him here.)

Gilbert: I'm going to torment your knight and blind him, so get the little hare back as soon as possible, okay?

Cyril: ....Goodbye, my peace of mind.

━━━━━━━༻❀✿❀༺━━━━━━━

Before I put Miss Bunny down, I vented my malice at him for choosing Clavis over me.

Gilbert: Be careful that Clavis doesn't intimidate you.

Gilbert: He's more dangerous than me, isn't he?

(In many ways.)

The expression on Miss Bunny's face tensed, and I could barely contain a smile.

Perhaps she should have taken that warning seriously.

(No, I said it seriously.)

(It's probably physical labor now. I can almost guess how comforting Clavis is.)

(Do your best, Miss Bunny.)

━━━━━━━༻❀✿❀༺━━━━━━━

Cyril: ...I don't understand Prince Gilbert.

On the way to the dining room, after saying goodbye to Miss Bunny and the others, Cyril, who was walking ahead, spoke.

Gilbert: Oh, you mean what I'm thinking about right now? Of course, I'm thinking about the next bad thing.

Gilbert: I'll be in the pit after this, so I might as well get an invitation to the evening in exchange for it...

Gilbert: How about ...killing the noblewoman who hurt Miss Bunny's leg?

Cyril: ...Don't give us any problems.

Gilbert: Ha-ha, you're not in your place, are you?

Cyril: Or rather, not... we want to know what Prince Gilbert is up to.

(I get it.)

The capable ex-military man knows all too well what members of the Obsidian royal family are like.

It is natural to be wary of unreadable malice.

(There's only one thing I desire. ...I desire Miss Bunny.)

Not literally.

(To defile her pure and chaste heart, "I want you to sympathize with me.")

(However, if you want to meet face-to-face without sympathy, that's fine, too.)

(I want to isolate her by subjecting her to bad intentions, and then see what choice she makes).

I "desire" in that sense, but it's not something I would say to a knight of an enemy country.

Gilbert: I won't tell the traitor anything.

Cyril: ...Right.

Gilbert: Hmmm...

(I can't wait to possess my hands on Miss Bunny.)

━━━━━━━༻❀✿❀༺━━━━━━━

Gilbert's Masterlist

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[bonniebird]

Elena Gilbert x Male Reader x Bella Swan

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When you had told Caroline that you’d miss everyone and didn’t want to visit your elderly aunt alone in Forks, you’d expected one of her grand parties. The kind she only threw when everything was falling apart and doom seemed inevitable. 

You had not expected to arrive in Forks to find Elena, Stefan, Caroline and Bonnie sitting in your elderly aunt's living room having tea with her. They had rented a house together in the mountains and wanted to surprise you. 

Everything went well at first. Stefan seemed to have been wrangled into waiting hand on foot for your aunt and she seemed more than happy to have someone fuss over her. However, you suspected that Stefan enjoyed grand motherly affection. 

You took Elena with you to lunch with Bella. She’d been suspicious of Elena at first, though Elena had been suspicious of her. It was a strange strained lunch that resulted in you realizing that both know about vampires, both had sworn you to secrecy and the other each suspected that they wanted something nefarious from you. You made no plans to correct them. They could sort that out between themselves. 

Lunch with Bella became a regular occurrence. Her new boyfriend would drop her off and she’d sit opposite Elena, asking polite questions as she sipped at her coffee and convinced herself of Elena’s misdeeds.

“Are you ok?” Elena had been pushing her food around her plate towards the end of lunch and spotted that you had winced a few times. You nodded but now Bella was watching carefully as well.

“What’s wrong?” Bella and Elena said in unison when you winced again.

“We should go.” You said to Elena.

“Why? We only just finished lunch. If you have a headache I have some painkillers in my bag.” Bella said as Elena immediately stood up from her seat. 

“I just, I get bad headaches and I have to go.” You insisted. Elena hurried to grab onto your arm and hurry you out of the cafe. Bella watched from your table as Elena hurriedly put you in the passenger seat and drove your car off toward your aunt's house. Deciding enough was enough she called Alice. She was certain that Alice would help her without hesitation and she wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.

Alice said nothing as she pulled up and Bella hurried in. She simply followed the directions she was given.

“You’re sure something terrible is going on?” Alice asked, finally speaking up as they stopped outside the old house.

“Yes. (Y/N) has been acting off and I don’t trust these new friends.” Bella insisted. They got out and hurried up the steps, Bella knocked on the door and, upon finding it locked, hurried inside. “Hello?” She called out.

She heard groaning and pained noises from the back room and motioned for Alice to follow her. They rushed through the house, crashed through the door, and found you clutching your head. You were siting in a large comfortable-looking armchair while your aunt fanned you with an ornate paper fan. Caroline was sitting on the floor scribbling away while Bonnie held your shoulders. She was looking up at the ceiling and saying things, describing something, Bella realized. Elena stood to one side with Stefan looking worried.

“Let go of him! What’re you doing to (Y/N)!” Bella demanded.

“Bella.” Alice said gently.

“You’re attacking him!” Bella continued.

“Bella. They’re helping him. You’re a vampire.” Alice said as she turned to Stefan who looked her up and down before nodding. “You’re a vampire too bad you're a witch.” She gestured to Bonnie and Caroline. Your pain seemed to stop and you fell back into the chair. Bella shoved Caroline and Bonnie out of the way to see if you were alright.

"I see things sometimes." You said as your way of explaining what happened.

“Oh. So they weren’t…``Bella trailed off and you laughed.

“Trying to hurt me? No. We’ve been through a lot. They wouldn’t hurt me.” You explained. Bella seemed dubious but accepted a chair when Elena offered to explain everything they’d gone through. Especially when Caroline and Stefan revealed that Alice was a vampire too. Your aunt said rather loudly that all this nonsense was too much for her and hurried off to take a nap in the other room.

Bella tags:

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Elena tags:

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[vanillawhiskeyflavoredkisses]

I can't even...

"Why did Depp, who had already lost a similar case in Britain, insist on going back to court? A public trial, during which allegations of physical, sexual, emotional and substance abuse against him were sure to be repeated, couldn’t be counted on to restore his reputation. Heard, his ex-wife, was counting on the opposite: that the world would hear, in detail, about the physical torments that led her to describe herself, in the Washington Post op-ed that led to the suit, as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”

Even before the verdict came in, Depp had already won. What had looked to many like a clear-cut case of domestic violence had devolved into a “both sides” melodrama. The fact that Heard’s partial victory, which involved not Depp’s words but those spoken in 2020 by Adam Waldman, his lawyer at the time, can be spun in that direction shows how such ambiguity served Depp all along. As one commenter on The New York Times site put it, “Every relationship has its troubles.” Life is complicated. Maybe they were both abusive. Who really knows what happened? The convention of courtroom journalism is to make a scruple of indeterminacy. And so we found ourselves in the familiar land of he said/she said.

We should know by now that the symmetry implied by that phrase is an ideological fiction, that women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have a much harder time being listened to than their assailants. I don’t mean that women always tell the truth, that men are always guilty as charged, or that due process isn’t the bedrock of justice. But Depp-Heard wasn’t a criminal trial; it was a civil action intended to measure the reputational harm each one claimed the other had done. Which means that it rested less on facts than on sympathies.

In that regard, Depp possessed distinct advantages. He isn’t a better actor than Heard, but her conduct on the stand was more harshly criticized in no small part because he’s a more familiar performer, a bigger star who has dwelled for much longer in the glow of public approbation. He brought with him into the courtroom the well-known characters he has played, a virtual entourage of lovable rogues, misunderstood artists and gonzo rebels. He’s Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow, Hunter S. Thompson, Gilbert Grape.

We’ve seen him mischievous and mercurial, but never truly menacing. He’s someone we’ve watched grow up, from juvenile heartthrob on “21 Jump Street” to crusty old salt in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. His offscreen peccadilloes (the drinking, the drugs, the “Winona Forever” tattoo) have been part of the pop-cultural background noise for much of that time, classified along with the scandals and shenanigans that have been a Hollywood sideshow since the silent era.

In his testimony, Depp copped to some bad stuff, but this too was a play for sympathy, of a piece with the charm and courtliness he was at pains to display. That he came off as a guy unable to control his temper or his appetites was seen, by many of the most vocal social media users, to enhance his credibility, while Heard’s every tear or gesture was taken to undermine hers. The audience was primed to accept him as flawed, vulnerable, human, and to view her as monstrous.

Because he’s a man. Celebrity and masculinity confer mutually reinforcing advantages. Famous men — athletes, actors, musicians, politicians — get to be that way partly because they represent what other men aspire to be. Defending their prerogatives is a way of protecting, and asserting, our own. We want them to be bad boys, to break the rules and get away with it. Their seigneurial right to sexual gratification is something the rest of us might resent, envy or disapprove of, but we rarely challenge it. These guys are cool. They do what they want, including to women. Anyone who objects is guilty of wokeness, or gender treason, or actual malice.

Of course there are exceptions. In the #MeToo era there are men who have gone to jail, lost their jobs or suffered disgrace because of the way they’ve treated women. The fall of certain prominent men — Harvey Weinstein, Leslie Moonves, Matt Lauer — was often welcomed as a sign that a status quo that sheltered, enabled and celebrated predators, rapists and harassers was at last changing.

A few years later, it seems more likely that they were sacrificed not to end that system of entitlement but rather to preserve it. Almost as soon as the supposed reckoning began there were complaints that it had gone too far, that nuances were being neglected and too-harsh punishments meted out.

This backlash has been folded into a larger discourse about “cancel culture,” which is often less about actions than words. “Cancellation” is now synonymous with any criticism that invokes racial insensitivity, sexual misbehavior or controversial opinions. Creeps are treated as martyrs, and every loudmouth is a free-speech warrior. Famous men with lucrative sinecures on cable news, streaming platforms and legacy print publications can proclaim themselves victims.

Which is just what Depp did. And while he accused Heard of doing terrible things to him in the course of their relationship and breakup, the lawsuit wasn’t about those things. It was about words published under her name, none of which were “Johnny Depp.” In a sentence the jury found false and malicious, after describing herself as “representing domestic abuse” Heard wrote that she “felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.” This time she surely has.

Misogyny isn’t the subtext of American political rage and social dysfunction; all too often, it’s the plain text. The links between domestic violence and mass shootings are chilling and well documented, though rarely cited in arguments about policy and prevention. The mobs of social media mobilize against women with special frequency and ferocity, often using the language of righteous grievance. Gamergate, a campaign of harassment directed at women who wrote about video game culture, pretended to be about “ethics in journalism.” The alt-right in the months before the 2016 election and its post-Trump progeny specialize in targeted misogyny. The TikTok hordes that went after Amber Heard over the past few months took a page from that book.

Depp’s victory is also theirs. The rage of men whose grievances are inchoate and inexhaustible found expression in a 58-year-old movie star’s humiliation of his 36-year-old former wife. I have to wonder: Are men OK? That’s a sincere question. Does the blend of self-pity, vanity, petulance and bombast that Depp displayed on the stand represent how we want to see ourselves or our sons? That’s a rhetorical question. The answer is yes.

Not all men, though. Right? Now that the trial is over, we’ll find new things to be ambiguous about, new venues where indeterminacy can serve as an alibi for the same old cruelty, and for its newer iterations. Johnny Depp is being embraced as a hero in some quarters, but his victory extends even to those who will allow themselves to feel troubled by the outcome of the trial and then move on. Some of us may wince a little when we watch “Pirates of the Caribbean” or “Donnie Brasco,” but we’ll probably still watch. They’re pretty good movies, and it’s not as if they can be expunged from the collective memory. That hasn’t happened to Louis C.K., or Woody Allen, or Michael Jackson, or Mel Gibson, or even Bill Cosby. Some of them have gone to court, some have faced public censure and disgrace, but they all remain woven into the fabric of the culture, and their behavior is too. We may not entirely forget, but we mostly forgive.

Let’s at least be clear about what that means. It means that we value the comfort and self-regard of men, especially famous ones, more than we value the safety and dignity of women, even famous ones."

(x)

This was written by a man. Which honestly kills me because all it does is prove that misandry is alive and well when it comes to the subject of domestic abuse. Just like that age old view of the patriarchy unable to see women as equals, women as anything other than damsels in distress, fragile little creatures that must be protected at all costs, here we have proof that society is still unable to accept the fact that a woman can abuse a man. And because said abuser is a woman, then society demands that we absolutely believe everything they've claimed despite evidence that was entered into a court of law that was reviewed by legal experts and jurors alike proving the contrary. It demands that not only are we to circle her wagons and defend her due to her anatomy but also turn a blind eye to her abuses of not only a man but other human beings that it has been documented by law enforcement and in a court of law that she actually did.

I am just...astonished. This is the NY Times. They approved this piece. And rather than talk to actual abuse experts and psychological experts, even law enforcement, they choose to continue to be part of the problem.

Let me say this, had I heard JD making the statements on the audio recordings that AH did instead, I absolutely would be just as passionate in supporting her. Because I support ALL survivors, regardless of their gender.

And because of my experience in this arena, because I am a survivor, I can tell you that within seconds of hearing AH speaking that I knew right then, other evidence sight unseen, who was really abusing who. It's a special club that not one of us ever wants to be a part of.

#this was in my drafts #kicking it out #anti amber heard

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Okay, so. First of all, it’s amusing that John Oliver is the opener in this episode, less than half a year after Andy Zaltzman had the middle spot in his episode. John wasn’t up against more famous comedians than Andy was (if anything, the opposite – Andy went on after Rhod Gilbert and before Greg Proops, while John’s episode was headlined by Glenn Wool), so that shows Andy was just ahead of John in the hierarchy, at one point. And of Rhod Gilbert, apparently. It didn’t last, but you’ll always have 2003, Andy.

Next order of business: he does three stories in this set, the first of which I thought was one of the less strong bits from his 2008 stand-up DVD, but it may have been one of his strongest as of 2004. He also told it a little better in 2008. Next up, we have a story that I’ve been thinking about lately, as evidenced by these posts I wrote a couple of weeks ago because Isy Suttie stole his fucking story, and no one clocked it, they all just went on with the episode like it was fine, Alan Davies even used it for an episode title in a way that ensured it made the edit, and at this point it’s not even about the specifics of the incident for me, it’s about the fact that no one else seems to have noticed! And you’re not allowed to do that! I just need someone else to point out that you’re not allowed to do that! Someone is breaking the rules in an easily provable way, and no one has said anything about it!

In getting very agitated about this situation across those two posts, I went over a few issues with it. Discrepancies depending on who’s telling it and when. So let’s sort this the fuck out. Here is the story that John Oliver told to the live audience in New York City in February 2010, when he was being filmed for his American TV show:

The greatest thing I have seen in New York happened on the subway. I was standing in the middle of the subway, in the middle of the carriage, you know, right where the electronic doors come together. And that bleeping sound started, you know, indicating to people that the doors are about to shut, and that they should therefore run faster if they want to catch this train. And this one businessman came flying down the stairs. He was moving so fast that he actually had to bang against a column to change direction in time. As he ran towards me, the doors started slowly coming together, it’s like the whole world went into slow motion. Our eyes met. And I could see him thinking – he was carrying, like, a briefcase in one hand, and a suitcase in the other. And I could see him thinking: “Okay, well I can’t do what I’d normally do, which is stick out my hand, and stop these doors, as I’ve got these bags. And yet, I still seem to be moving, at pace, towards the side of this train. What to do? Think, Kenny, think. Brainstorm, you’re good at this in the office, there’s no right answer here. Just some blue sky creative thinking is what’s needed here.” And he did something which only he will ever truly understand. Because what that was is that he just stuck out his head, and the doors closed on his neck. Now, he wasn’t hurt. Because the system is, it’s supposed to go slowly the first time, and if it meets any resistance, it’s supposed to release, and then hammer back a second time. But, this had clearly happened one too many times to this driver, because he just left him there. This man was left with his head in the train, and his body and bags flapping around outside on the platform. You have never seen anyone de-age so fast in your life. He was clearly a successful man, yet in that moment, he just looked like a naughty boy, with his head stuck between some railings, waiting for a fireman to cut him loose. And yet, he still had the inherent heroic self-confidence from who knows where to, when someone tutted at him on the train, he looked up, and went, “What?”

What do you mean, “What?” Why don’t you hazard a guess? Your head is stuck in the doors. You are wearing this entire train as a makeshift hat. You cannot carry this look off. And then, the static sound started coming over the loudspeaker. You know the driver is about to speak to the rest of the train. And this driver was mid-laugh. He was on the phone to a friend of his upstairs, basically saying, “You have got to come and take a look at this. This is the best five minutes you will ever take out of your day.” And then, they finished their conversation, and the static sound was still there, and it became clear he was going to speak to all of us on the train. And I have never felt such a sense of excited community with strangers as we experienced together. All looking at each other, saying, “What’s he going to say? What’s he going to say? This could be incredible.” And he cleared his throat, the driver, and I promise you this is true, he said this. He said: [clears throat] “Well well well, looks like we’ve just caught us a douchebag!” Well played. Well played, driver. Well played.

And here is the story John Oliver told to a live audience at the London Comedy Store, while being recorded for a BBC Radio Four episode that aired in January 2004:

Comedians are, perhaps, the worst, for exaggeration, of anyone. You know, it’s kind of professional lying. And the biggest lie I think you’ll ever get told, as an audience, by a comedian, is when someone kind of swaggers to the front of the stage, and says, “Oh, a funny thing happened to me on the way to the gig.” That is never true. The only thing that ever happens on the way to a gig is overwhelming loneliness and a creeping sense of depression. But the fact is that once, an incredible thing happened to me as I was on my way to work, and I wanted to tell you about it tonight. I was standing in the middle of a tube train, opposite where those electronic doors come together. And that bleeping sound started, indicating to people that the doors were about to shut, and that therefore, they should run faster if they want to catch this particular train. And this one businessman came flying down the side of the stairs. He was moving so fast, he actually had to bang against a wall to change direction in time. And, as he came towards me, the doors started coming together, and our eyes met, and it was like the whole world went into slow motion. He had a briefcase in one hand and a huge suitcase in the other, and I could see him thinking, “Well, I can’t do what I’d normally do, which is stick out my hand and stop these doors, as I’ve got these bags. And yet, I still seem to be moving, at pace, towards the side of this train. What to do? What to do? So, he did something which only he will ever truly understand. And what that was was that he just stuck out his head, and the doors closed on his neck. Now, he wasn’t hurt. It was one of those situations where it’s supposed to go slowly the first time, and if it meets any resistance, it’s supposed to release, and then hammer back a second time. But, this had clearly happened one too many times to this driver, because he just left him there! So this man was left with his head in the train, and his body and bags flapping around outside on the platform, like some kind of frustrated Shakin' Stevens. You’ve never seen anyone de-age so fast in your life. This was clearly a successful man, he had the trappings of success. He had a purpose, a reason to be alive, somewhere to go in life. Yet in that moment, he just looked like a naughty child, with his head wedged between some railings, waiting for the fire engine to turn up. Yet he still had the inherent self-confidence that comes from who knows what? His job, his background, his politics, who knows? He still had the total confidence to, when someone tutted at him in the train, he looked up and went, “What?” What do you mean, “What?” Your head is stuck in the doors! Why don’t you hazard a guess? You’re wearing this entire train as a makeshift hat! You can’t carry this look off!

And here is the story Isy Suttie told to the live audience at the Battersea Arts Centre in London, while being filmed for the British TV show Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, recorded in late 2022 and airing in March 2023, :

Isy Suttie: I was on a tube once, and a guy ran onto the tube. And as the doors were closing, he decided to stop them from closing with his head, so they closed on his face like that, and then he just looked…

Seann Walsh: Like Jack Nicholson in the Shining.

Isy Suttie: Yes! And then the driver came over the Tannoy and went, “Well well well…”

Stephen Mangan: He must have been, This is it, I’ve been waiting my whole…

Isy Suttie: You could hear the glee in his voice! He said, “Well well well, we seem to have caught ourselves a twat.” And he, he couldn’t move! He couldn’t move!

Right, okay. A few discrepancies there. I think we’ve ruled out the possibility that it happened in New York. Before hearing this radio thing, I’d thought I remembered reading that he was telling this story in England before he ever moved to America, but I wasn’t 100% sure of that. I now have heard it confirmed that the story was born at least 2.5 years before he left London. So it could still have happened if he was visiting New York before then, but not likely. You’d think he’d have said so, to the British audience and on the radio, if it had happened in New York. That would be an excitingly exotic bit of texture. This makes it a bit weird that, when he told it on TV, he specifically described it as “The greatest thing I have seen in New York.” I mean, it’s fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with changing details in a stand-up story or even making one up altogether. It just seems like an unnecessary lie to tell. Kind of funny, though, that the greatest thing John Oliver saw in New York did not happen in New York. So it probably did happen in London, meaning it’s possible that Isy Suttie was actually there.

The other major discrepancy is that John Oliver claimed the driver called the businessman a “douchebag”, while Isy Suttie said the word was “twat”. Isy also referenced this story on her podcast once, and that time, she also claimed the driver said “twat”. If it happened in London, then presumably the driver really did say “twat”, and John changed it for the American audience. Which is, also, funny. That John Oliver knew the American audience wouldn’t understand the word “twat”, and wanted to change it to the most American insult he could think of, and came up with “douchebag”.

When Isy referenced this story on her podcast, she didn’t specify where it happened, or even, technically, whether it happened. She said that someone she used to know (didn’t say John’s name, either) used to have a stand-up bit about [and then told this whole story, with the word “twat” instead of douchebag, not specifying when or where it happened]. So that technically leaves open the possibility that it never happened, that maybe John and Isy invented this together. But I think it rules out the possibility that she was, in fact, on that train with him. Because if that were the case, then he radio story would have been “This thing happened to me”, not, “Someone had a stand-up bit about this”.

The fact that the story was being told as early as January 2004 means the event, if it did in fact happen, happened in 2003 or earlier. And 2003 or the couple of years that preceded it takes us right into when he knew Isy Suttie, in a way that makes it so much weirder for her to steal his story. It means she could well have heard this story as just a thing that happened, before it was a stand-up bit. But then it very much became a stand-up bit, a staple of his stand-up for nearly a decade, and therefore, not fair game as part of taking a story that happened to someone you know and pretending it happened to you on a panel show. Isy, it’s been twenty years. Why did you do this?

The only okay option is it never happened, and John Oliver and Isy Suttie sat around together in 2002 inventing businessmen who got their heads stuck in trains. Joint ownership of the joke. Doesn’t seem likely, but I do like the idea.

It’s funny that on that radio show, the story was introduced with the idea that comedy is “professional lying”, you can’t assume anything they’re telling you is true, especially not if it’s a story of what happened to them on the way to a gig. And then he proceeds to claim that the following story is of what happened to him on the way to a gig. And that story turns out to be the centre of a confusing web of lies that spans twenty years.

I mean, this is some Kitson-style shit. Like in an early episode of Trifle, he told us that he’d planned to do a whole thing where he lied about where he was recording and used sound effects to make it seem like he was in different places, but he’d decided he shouldn’t do that. Then he told us, “This whole show is a ruse.” Then several weeks later he acted out a thing with Isy Suttie where he explained to her that he told us from the beginning it wasn’t real. Technically, John Oliver told us this one wasn’t real, he said stories from the commute to a gig aren’t real and then he said this story is from the commute to a gig. Okay, new idea: John Oliver and Isy Suttie came up with that back in 2002, to invent a story and then tell it in different ways in different places and different years and ascribe it to different people, and tell everyone from the very beginning that it was all a lie but they’ll still think it’s real. And it’s all some sort of meta commentary on what is and isn’t real in stand-up stories.

So, I have a new question for these people. If I could ask John Oliver one question, it would still be: “What the fuck was the thought process, and exact chain of events, leading to you smashing up a cow on stage at the Gilded Balloon at 2:30 AM on August 26, 2003?” But if I had one more, it would be: “So what happened with the train guy? In what way was Isy Suttie involved, during or after the fact? Was she there? Did you tell it to her later and you two embellished any details together? Where did happen? Did it even happen at all? Sorry that all my questions involve shit from twenty years ago, I would say I know it’s not fair to expect you to remember random shit that happened in 2003, but clearly someone remembers, and her name is Isy Suttie. And she’s getting away with breaking rules because apparently no one else remembers and catches her out!”

It’s fine. Sometimes I like to dig up mysteries from twenty years ago and ascribe far more importance to them than they actually merit, and then put a wildly disproportionate amount of effort into trying to work them out. It’s just something I like to do, because my life is going very well at the moment.

Obviously, if I could ask John Oliver one question, it would actually be: “When, and exactly how, did you and Andy Zaltzman figure out that your comedic styles and chemistry fit perfectly with each other, and what was the process in deciding to turn that into a double act?” I wrote that sentence while thinking I’d briefly take myself out of the comically disproportionate focus on a twenty-year-old mystery, and say my sincere answer to what’s the thing I’d most like to know about one of my favourite comedians. Then I realized that question is also about stuff from twenty years ago. That’s fine. I think we should sort out everything that happened in 2003 before we can get working on whatever’s going on now.

(...I’m feeling the need to clarify that I am aware that what clearly actually happened is Isy Suttie just heard an opportunity to tell a funny story on a panel show, and in the moment, made the not ideal decision to tell someone else’s stand-up story as though it happened to her. I very much like Isy Suttie, as far as I know she has no history of this sort of thing, it’s probably fine. But it genuinely gnaws at my brain that no one pointed out the flagrant issue with what she’d said, so I’ve enjoyed coming up with alternative theories.)

[keishajay]

Hocus Pocus 2 is... a giant missed opportunity

I really hope this isn’t just me being too old and jaded to enjoy new things anymore, but I HATED this movie. It was just boring and unfunny with no direction and the same pandering message that all movies seem to have nowadays. The writing choices honestly led me to believe the writers had never even seen the original, and the whole time, I couldn’t identify who this movie was made for. At first, I assumed it was just nostalgia baiting for people like me who love the original, and then, they nerfed the threat of the witches. Then, I figured it was for teenagers as their first exposure to Hocus Pocus, but then, they overloaded the whole thing with references from the first movie that nobody who hadn’t seen it already would get. Is it supposed to empower teenage girls? I honestly can’t tell. If you’ve never seen the original, the witches are kind of painted like victims in this one with the protagonists winning by killing them. I don’t even think it’s colorful and exciting enough to be for younger kids. Nothing really happens for a good chunk of its runtime.

There is but one good thing about this movie, and that is the original Sanderson sisters. They’re back and having just as much fun as before. They’re fun to watch when they’re on screen, but their chemistry and goofiness wasn’t enough to save this garbage fire of a script.

#1: Historical accuracy is a suggestion in this movie. Those girls would NOT have been allowed to live alone and act the way they did in the 1600s. Blah, blah, blah, witches and magic exist, but this takes place in the real world with real world history and rules. Winnie would not have been given a choice to marry that kid. His family probably would’ve taken her and her sisters in after their parents died, just waiting until they could be married. That’s two more hands to help in what looks like a farming hamlet. If they wanted Winnie to have that protective, older sister vibe, why not make her hate her forced husband? Why not make the sisters’ new guardians awful to them? You get the same outcome with a more sensible, relatable setup.

#2: The main characters have no personality. I didn’t even know one of the girls’ names until the end credits. All three of them are cardboard cutout teenage girls with the edges removed. And their “conflict” wasn’t even a conflict. I assumed Becca and Cassie were acting weird because one of them confessed to same-sex attraction (that’s exactly what that weirdness would’ve been if they were opposite genders). And then, it just turns out Cassie wanted her old friends to hang out with her new friends. Granted, that’s a very teenager fight to have, but it’s resolved and explained in all of ten seconds, and then, everyone’s just suddenly over it. That is not how teenagers act. These girls would’ve been so much more interesting if they’d just lifted them straight from The Craft.

#3: None of the characters have any agency in this story. In the original, the goals are clear and laid out from the start. The sisters need to brew their potion to kill children and make themselves young again before sunrise. Max, Dani, and Allison need to outsmart the witches to stop them, effectively cleaning up their own mess. Simple, clean, and easy to follow. What was the goal in the sequel? Becca and Izzy are following the same mess-cleaning plot as the first, but it wasn’t their mess in the first place. It was Gilbert’s fault, not theirs. They didn’t wake the witches by being stupid teenagers. They woke them because they were tricked. What was the witches’ goal? They didn’t have one until they saw the Mayor. Then, they wanted to kill him for like a second, and then, for some reason, they decided doing the all-powerful witch spell was what they wanted. Again, for reasons. Were they only awakened for that one night? Who knows. The movie and the witches themselves act like they have all the time in the world.

#4: The rules from the first are broken or ignored. Mary explicitly smells Dani and tells the others exactly how old she is in the first. Yet, they’re fooled somehow by two teenagers lying about their ages in the sequel. How, if Mary can tell a child’s age through smell? Binx states that nothing good can come from the spell book and repeatedly warns Max and Allison not to even open it. Now, in the sequel, the book bound by human skin suddenly can be used for good. It even has a personality now, and it didn’t want Winnie to use that power spell. Why? Because the book cared about her and her sisters? Again, why? It’s just handed over in the prologue and doesn’t seem bothered in the least about losing that master. It had just abandoned Winnie for Becca in the previous scene as well. Are the writers trying to imply that good people can make bad people change? The book has a personality now, after all.

#5: There are no stakes. Yes, this is a family movie. I get it, but you can still have stakes and threatening villains without crippling your script. The sisters have ample opportunity to kill Becca and Co. but choose not to until the plot armor kicks in to prevent them from being able to do so. They even threaten to kill them multiple times and don’t do it when there’s literally no reason why they wouldn’t. Morality certainly didn’t stop them from trying in the first one. As stated in point 3, the witches have no concrete goal for the heroes to stop. There’s no statement made about how to defeat the witches or even a ticking clock for urgency. The girls trap them once, which again led me to question why the writers kept ignoring Mary’s sense of smell, and then, all three witches just end up dead by the end through a combination of hubris and framing murder in a very questionable light. They literally assisted in Winnie’s suicide by lying to her about the spell being able to bring her sisters back. And this is framed as the kind thing to do. Excuse me. What? 

#6: The all-powerful witch spell is an awful plot device. The story warns us that this spell is very dangerous and should never be used. The book doesn’t even like it, and it hasn’t removed the spell itself, for some reason. (It can open itself, fly around, and select pages on its own. Why couldn’t it remove a page?) Why is it so dangerous the book gifted by Satan and bound with human skin doesn’t want it used? Who knows. The only indication of its danger is the very clearly stated cost of the spell. Fine. But if Winnie was now all-powerful, why couldn’t she just magic her sisters back to life somehow? She should be able to do anything she wants. She could just rewind time if she felt like it. There’s no inherent limit to omnipotence, and the story never provides one either. It also begs the question of why they never used it before. Why suck the lives out of children to stay young forever when you could just be all-powerful? Why didn’t the woods witch use it? Or did she and she was warning them as a cautionary tale? Who knows. The writers couldn’t seem to come up with an answer beyond Winnie promised she wouldn’t.

#7: Becca’s magic was essentially pointless to the plot. Everything she did with it could’ve just as easily been achieved with salt, which they used multiple times in the movie. She can’t even stand up to Winnie with it. So, what was its purpose exactly? The movie would’ve worked just as well without it. Hell, it might’ve even been better off that way. Then, we could’ve seen some ingenuity from our “heroes” as they stand up to people much more powerful than them.

90% of this movie just left me asking why over and over again. They had the makings of something that could’ve been fun. Maybe not great but at least fun. Bring the witches back by accident and focus on the omnipotence spell. They learned their lesson from last time and are just gonna skip all the child-murder nonsense. Turn Gilbert into an actual villain like Ben Ravencroft from Scooby-Doo instead of half-assing it and having him forgiven by the end for no reason at all. He didn’t redeem himself. He did nothing except trick people the entire story, and he’s a good guy at the end? Turn Becca, Izzy, and Cassie into Sarah, Bonnie, and Rochelle from the Craft. (Nancy’s a little intense for a family movie.) That setup pokes that nostalgia itch for both of these movies. Hell, go the extra mile and turn Gilbert into Nancy. Even that would’ve been cooler than what we got. How much better would it have been to have the girls go up against their power-hungry friend at the end of the movie? For those that want to argue that it’s fine the way it is, sure, that’s an opinion. But why would you want fine when things could be better? You lose nothing by having a solid story and a real magic system, so why not have them and make your movie better?

So, yeah, Hocus Pocus 2 is just missed opportunity 101 the movie. Not as bad as I was expecting but still not anywhere near what I would call good.

#hocus pocus 2 #bad writing #movie review #i really just wanted this to be better #it's just a string of largely unconnected plot threads that goes nowhere in the end #damn shame

[orbitinghetalia]

Forgotten but not alone

He was walking besides his little brother. The one that had at some point managed to grow taller than him.

At some point their bosses cared for wanted Ludwig’s attention more than his and he had been pushed away from his brother’s side and he walked besides other people with a position within the government.

Then the other nations were more interested in Germany’s company than in Prussia’s. Which was good, in a way. He had fought wars so his baby brother would be able to grow strong and important. He had known what he was giving, he just didn’t fully realise what it would take from him.

After the war, no one wanted to know of him. His people, his brother’s people, hated him. The west was glad to forget about him, so much for his best friends. And Russia… Well, Gilbert thought the eastern nation wanted to hurt someone as much as he had been hurt.

He and Ludwig had hurt the other man badly.

For his massive union, Ivan was alone. Gilbert, on the wrong side of the wall, was mainly forgotten.

Alone and forgotten seemed nearly the same thing.

Maybe Russia and Prussia had something in common.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prussia had walked in the shadow of Gemany.

Gilbert had come to terms of being forgotten in favour of Ludwig.

It was okay, he was glad to be home at last and to see his little brother thrive.

He would forever recognize the look of someone who was forgotten. Someone who was alone.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Everyone loved her little sister. Perfect little Feliciana.

Loved the woman so much they forgot the true heir of Rome. His oldest grandchild.

So of course they would forget about Chiara as easily.

As the people gathered around the representation of Italy, the older sister was left in the rain.

Chiara tried to take cover near a small, closed store and watched as the crowed moved away from her without noticing her absence while the rain continued to pour down on her.

Until it suddenly didn’t and she looked up. The brother of the potato eater her sister liked. The older potato eater. She was about to tell him to mind his own business when he spoke up.

“Want to follow that crowed or do something that is actually fun.”

“The fun is where that crowed is.” She answered sharply.

“Only if they remember you.” He looked at her. “I’m alone here and they seem to have forgotten about you.”

“Alone and forgotten are nearly the same thing.” She answered.

The right thing to say, since the man smirked and lead them in the opposite direction.

Chiara had never felt this happy to walk besides someone, the way she was happy to walk by this other forgotten nation’s side.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Maybe there was something to the way her little sister talked about her potato eater.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

@prumano-week prompt forgotten.

#prumanoweek2022 #aph prussia #hwsprussia #aph romano #hws romano #aph south italy #hws south italy #aph prumano #my stuff #my fics #not a writer #pretty proud of this one.

[knowltonsrangers]

Pining

AKA: when they realized they loved you.

Benjamin Tallmadge:

Ben exists in the present, and in his own fantasy world. He’s a dreamer, and always has stars in his eyes as he thinks of new things to add to his beaten up journal. Things come and go, ideas float around and swim in his mind before they’re scrapped and used for spare parts. But it wasn’t until you started appearing in these happy mindless thoughts of his, that he took a second to evaluate what he was getting himself into. Usually, the planes don’t overlap. You’ve created a bridge from his existing reality into his life, and he can’t help himself when he stares at you lovingly. He really does love you, the moment his blue eyes lock onto you, saying aloud that you are perfect.

Caleb Brewster:

When the room finally ceases spinning, he can stop and gather his thoughts. So much is always constantly happening around him, and he needs a moment to breathe, and take deep intakes of air that have him nearly toppling over. He’s stressed, he’s overworked, but still he continues, in fear of what comes when he doesn’t obey the rules. He realizes he’s absolutely in love with you when you remind him to breathe, remind him to take all the time he needs to cool down, and help him when he’s gotten himself into a blurry mess that he can’t clean up alone. Now, the room only stops spinning when he sees you, and his eyes light up like you’ve never seen before.

Ensign Baker:

It’s hard for people to get a good read of him, because he appears instinctively intimidating but he’s quite literally the opposite. More often then not, he finds it’s hard to share eye contact with you because he thinks that you’re so beautiful and he’s not worth the half a mind. But when you agreed to his proposal of maybe taking your friendship to another level, he swore that was the moment he fell in love. You accepted him for who he was, and didn’t bat an eye when someone needed help. You’re perfect, an absolute gem, and Ensign sees you for who you are, just as you see him for who he is. Fingers intertwined on that red string of fate.

Robert Townsend:

Easily enough, when you asked him ‘can I read some of your works?’. Unable to concoct a sentence, he simply stared at you blankly, to which you hastily followed up with: ‘but only if it’s okay with you, of course!’ He had never even thought of allowing anyone to see or read what he writes, because no ones ever asked. He’ll feel a bit bad for making it seem like he didn’t trust you, but it really was him taking those moments to realize that you actually wanted to. It wasn’t a pity offer or something, you genuinely wanted to, and that not only confused him, but made his heart thrum loudly in his chest. He’ll keep that moment to himself, but he knows it as the day he quite literally fell in love with you.

Marquis de Lafayette:

Gilbert was always a yes man. Anything anyone needed at any time he was always there, a pillar to lean on and an absolutely fantastic listener. However, in his times of trouble, he found when it came time to return the favor, people were hesitant to cough it up. You, on the other hand, went way out of your way to be that rock for him. A check up every week or so, outside of seeing him regularly, just a simple: ‘how’s everything going?’. It made his heart swell, because he knew you actually cared, and never sought him out just to complain. You were an amazing person who always returns the favor, and for that, he came to the conclusion he would love you forever.

George Washington:

‘You are doing enough.’ Four words got him. Four words that you said to him at the kitchen table one random Wednesday night, where he’d hunched over in his seat to rub at his temples to get the ache away from his head. Convinced for so long in any scenario, that he should have done this, not that, or maybe gone this direction instead of the other way, you carefully shoved all those doubts aside with four words. It got him enough that he finally let those stressed filled shoulders to drop, letting the anxiety and tension building up go. He definitely felt something in his chest tighten when you said those words, and he often thinks that that was the exact moment he realized he loved you.

Paul Revere:

Often asking him what he’d like. What would Paul Revere like? That’s a loaded question-but you simplify it into the easiest term possible, and he suddenly finds himself stupefied. What would he like to do? Well? His jaw opens up and closes, and then opens and closes again. Feeling this type of way is foreign to him, so when you catch him a couple weeks later and ask the same question with different context, he just about loses it. In his mind, he declares this as the moment the connection is made between his brain and his heart, where he decides he’ll go down on your ship forever. What does Paul Revere want? That’s a horribly loaded question with the simplest answer in the book. You.

Doctor Joseph Warren:

Telling him what a kind heart he has. Easily enough, he’s a man of doubts in between times of trouble. He has to be brave and he has to be precise because he just has to be. When he can’t figure something out, he turns to his friends, and when they can’t satisfy his question, he needs gratification. He needs an answer or it’ll eat him alive. Because of this, he always feels that his heart is in the wrong place. Is he doing the right things? Will it all work out? What is going to happen— ‘you have such a kind heart, Joseph,’ the sentence physically shut him up, snapping his jaw shut in surprise. In times of doubt, he seeks you out instead, the loving twinkle in his eyes never fading.

[a/n: hi! The semesters wrapping up, and while I’m finding it hard to get back into my groove of writing, I hope that this is okay for now! Ly 💕]

#sul writes #turn amc #turn washington's spies #benjamin tallmadge #caleb brewster #robert townsend #marquis de lafayette #george washington #Paul Revere #doctor joseph warren #ensign baker

[popentertainment-moviereviews]

MARRY ME (2022)

Starring Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma, Sarah Silverman, John Bradley, Chloe Coleman, Michelle Buteau, Stephen Wallem, Jameela Jamil, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brady Noon, Connor Noon, Nicole Suarez, Justin Sylvester, Khalil Middleton, Kat Cunning, Taliyah Whitaker, Diego Lucano, Ryan Foust, Léah Jiménez Zelaya, Hoda Kotb and Jimmy Fallon.

Screenplay by John Rogers & Tami Sagher and Harper Dill.

Directed by Kat Coiro.

Distributed by Universal Pictures. 112 minutes. Rated PG-13.

For a film critic, there are very few terms that strike more fear in the heart than this one: A romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. Oh, wait, there is an even scarier one: A wedding comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.

I must admit I was a little worried when I started to watch the video of Marry Me after missing it during its short theatrical run. Therefore, I must come clean – it’s better than I expected. Significantly better. It’s not great or anything, but for what it was – an exceedingly light romantic comedy about mismatched soulmates – it was actually pretty good.

Marry Me is a bit of a rip off of Notting Hill – and while it isn’t nearly as good as that film, it is taking its idea from fertile ground. (In fact, for a bit I was thinking that Owen Wilson was doing a bit of an impersonation of Hugh Grant’s befuddled-but-sweet singleton in that film, before it hit me that pretty much all of Owen Wilson’s career has been a Hugh Grant imitation without the suave British accent.)

Essentially, Lopez is playing Kat Valdez, a musical superstar who is part of a high-profile couple with a singer only known as Bastian (played by a singer only known as Maluma). They have just recorded a best-selling single called “Marry Me” (side note: for a movie about hit singers, most of the songs written for Marry Me kind of stink) and are about to get married on national television at a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden.

Of course, nothing goes as planned, and literally while Kat is getting ready to go onstage, a gossip column releases video of Bastian fooling around with Kat’s assistant. Kat decides to not to marry him, which makes perfect sense. What she does next does not make any sense, not in any world, not even in a rom com. But there would be no story otherwise. She randomly picks a man from the crowd who is holding a “Marry Me” sign – and asks him to marry.

Yeah, okay…

That man is Charlie Gilbert (Wilson), a middle-school math teacher who is not particularly a fan – he’s just there for his daughter. The sign wasn’t even his, his lesbian friend Parker (Sarah Silverman) had just handed it to him so she could video the meltdown on her phone. But Charlie goes up on stage and essentially agrees to marry this crazy woman he’d never met before in front of the whole world.

At first, they assume that they will have to do rounds of publicity for a few months until the story dies down. But as they spend time together acting “married,” a funny thing happens, they start to fall for each other.

So, okay, buying into the premise is a huge stretch. However, if you can swallow all that, Marry Me turns out to be a pretty charming look at an “opposites attract” relationship.

He learns about the craziness of show business and the paparazzi. He teaches her to slow down, do things for herself and to appreciate the little things in life. (She gets way too excited by the corsage he buys her when they chaperone a prom at his school together.)

And, of course, when Bastian (who is younger, hipper and sexier than Wilson – which is not all that much of a stretch, anyway) starts sniffing around trying to get Kat back, Charlie can’t decide whether to be a good guy and not stand in the way of her career and happiness, or to fight for her.

There is nothing even the tiniest bit surprising in Marry Me – but what did you expect from a romantic comedy with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson? However, props where they are due, Marry Me handles its formula story much better than you would imagine.

I wouldn’t want to make a steady diet of films like Marry Me, but this time out they actually did it pretty well. So congratulations, Ms. Lopez and Mr. Wilson, you pulled it off. I’ll still probably pause before watching your next film together, though.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: March 28, 2022.

#Marry Me #2022 #Jennifer Lopez #Owen WIlson #Movie Review #Jay S. Jacobs

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Candyman (1992)

While horror is a universally loved genre, the Black voice has been largely absent over the years.  There have been notable moments that stand out throughout the course of horror history : Ben in Night of the Living Dead, Dick Hollorann in The Shining and Blacula all had impact on a grand scale.  In 1992, an iconic character made his way onto the horror scene that eventually opened the door for characters like Blade, and eventually, films like Get Out and Us... this character was the titular focus of the Bernard Rose cult classic Candyman.

There is a very interesting subversion taking place in the film in regard to the validity of Candyman as an entity versus the very real crime taking place in the Illinois and Indiana area.  Immediately we are hit with secondhand tales of Candyman (bolstered by traditional urban legends like alligators in the sewer system), with a key detail of the Candyman story being a wake of solitary “witnesses” that soon lose their sanity.  As mentioned previously, real crimes are used to support the campfire tales of Candyman and his trail of terror, with stories like Ruthie Jean’s not only having news coverage, but direct debunking of the supernatural aspects such as Helen Lyle’s medicine cabinet apartment access.  Funny enough, Helen ventures headlong into the very real terror that is Cabrini Green, completely oblivious to the actual danger that exists in her blind pursuit of validation.  Much like the survivor of the Illinois story, Helen eventually finds herself the victim of insanity, and through this unreliable narrator presentation, one wonders if Helen may have actually been capable of committing the crimes that take place during her exploits.

As a new entry to the larger spectrum of horror, Candyman hits the nail on the head for many of the key aspects that make a good movie monster.  If looked at in silhouette, there are many monsters and unsavory characters that immediately come to mind : Nosferatu, legendary pirates like Blackbeard and Michael Myers all share similar statures upon first glance.  The grotesque nature of his hooked hand and bee infestation make him repulsive upon sight, and even more so when attempts to process and comprehend him take place.  His backstory matches that of a many horror staples who were created by the swift and vicious hand of mob justice.  The rules upon summoning him are somehow both specific and vague simultaneously : it is known you must say his name five times, but based on the first kill we see, it apparently doesn’t have to be the same person that says the name, and based on the experience of Helen, he will either show up instantly or take his sweet time.  He can appear at will wherever he seemingly likes, and in one instance he flies out of a room, and yet he is (seemingly) conquered via the use of fire, ironically once again at the hands of mob justice.  It is this mixture of elements, not to mention the copycat Candyman that threatens the citizens of Cabrini Green and assaults Helen, that make him such an instantly powerful figure in the realm of horror.

Films like Candyman can be used to study how one builds tension and sets mood in multiple facets.  To be fair, using Philip Glass to score your film is an immediate win, and his score elevates the level of tension and expectation from the film’s opening moments.  The city of Chicago is used to great effect, with its rich history, distinct look and economic disparity all helping to build two worlds : the academic world of curious outsiders going to great lengths to make sense of the senseless violence in Cabrini Green, and the world of the disenfranchised people forced to live eye to eye with the terror, be it supernatural or otherwise.  The iconic fur-lined trench coat and hook on the hand make the Candyman character design stand out, giving him a dominating and intimidating presence that resonates outside of the screen.

Virginia Madsen, unknowingly or not, channels some deep-seeded tension born of the way that relationships between Black men and White women are considered taboo, with her gaze and fascination communicated through her acting having both a direct meaning and tons of subtext.  Standing opposite her is Tony Todd, who brings a Shakespearean grandeur to his portrayal of Candyman that puts viewers in awe of him in a very similar way that those he terrorizes feel.  Kasi Lemmons does a good job of standing as the voice of reason for Madsen’s Helen without leaning into the role of a nagging or spineless character, often providing reason and insight to Helen’s blind pursuit.  DeJuan Guy is surprisingly powerful as a young man frozen in fear by an outwardly misperceived terror that Helen fails to comprehend.  Supporting performances by Xander Berkeley, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Gilbert Lewis, Carolyn Lowery, Stanley DeSantis and many more make the world of Candyman as visceral as it is terrifying. 

I’m planning on seeing the updated Candyman tonight, but it didn’t feel right going into that film without at least a brief return to the original property.  I revisited initially via Primm’s Hood Cinema on YouTube, but after a think piece about the subtext in Candyman by Say Something Media, it felt like the film needed a proper viewing and not just a refresher.  Much like when it was released, Candyman still manages to split the audience, but I find myself on the side that always loved the film, and still do.

#ChiefDoomsday #DOOMonFILM #BernardRose #Candyman #VirginiaMadsen #TonyTodd #XanderBerkeley #VanessaEstelleWilliams #KasiLemmons #DeJuanGuy #GilbertLewis #CarolynLowery #StanleyDeSantis #MariannaElliott #TedRaimi #MichaelCulkin #EricEdwards #RustySchwimmer #LaneshaMartin

[shini--chan]

Allies or axis who are having (feeling and) war against the country (reader) . During the fight they hurt the reader and finding out that she is a Girl! How would they react because they thought that she was a he for years?

Yandere Axis

Germany

Inwardly, Ludwig would scowl the moment he’d discover that morsel of information. Outwardly, he’d only show the slightest sign of shock. It would mean he’d have to redesign all of those thorough plans he had for you, not to mention completely restyle the room he’d want to share for you.

It would be such a shame to him that he would have only found out about your actual identity hours after he had injured you, thank to one of his loyal spies that would have infiltrated your army and be prowling around your encampments. In hindsight, it would have been far more lucrative to double his efforts to capture you. Because now, with you wounded, he wouldn’t have chance to see you again in a long time.

Germany would ingrain in his men not to go around carelessly butchering and raping women and keep a closer eye on them to prevent such barbarities more than before. While the chance would be slim that you’d somehow be abused by his men, Ludwig wouldn’t be taking any risks. You are his, even if you wouldn’t accept the roll as of the present. This war would just be a means of teaching you a few valuable lessons.

Japan

The moment Kiku would make the deciding move to uncover the truth about you would be followed by a few instances of stupor. In order to escape, you’d have to use this very narrow window of time to scamper off. Although, in the long run there wouldn’t be much difference no matter what pathway you’d choose. The sadistic grin on his face that would inevitably follow would be just as chilling from a distance as it would be up close.

Your story would remind him of his own legends of women stepping on the battlefield to fight for their domain. Mentally, he would find himself comparing them to you. History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. Would your courage measure up to Tomoe Gozen? Would you turn out to just as brazen as Hangaku Gozen? Japan would all the keener on testing your limits.

Although he might elect other tactics to capture you. Seeing that you’d disguised yourself as a woman, it would mean that your own forces would most likely be unaware of your identity. Japan would ensure that your secret would reach people outside of your circle of confidents. After a humiliating process of examining you to check on the enemy’s claims, you’d be dishonourably discharged. Whether it would be because you’re a woman or because you’d lied your way into the army, the result would be the same. It would end in you being found be Japan, ready to sweep you away in your moment of weakness.

Prussia

Like his brother, Gilbert would have the truth delivered to him hours later, probably because you had been injured in one of the air-raids he had conducted. It would leave him spluttering, completely confused with him hastily going over memories at light-speed. Prussia prides himself in having fully control over most situations and the fact that you’re not a woman would mean that something vital about you would have completely escaped him. That wouldn’t sit well with him and would lead to a meticulous introspection to ensure that this mistake wouldn’t have been any sign of him growing senile.

He would be very angry with you for shamelessly lying to him and once he’d finally have you all to himself he would go out of his way to carry out a punishment you’d never forget. The nuances of his feelings would change slightly, because loving a man is different than loving a woman. And because he would have learned something entirely new and fundamental about you.

Don’t think that he’d be laxer on you just because you belong to the opposite sex. The enemy is the enemy and the worst thing one could do would be to underestimate them because of some ludicrous, narrow-minded notions. Such things cause people to lose wars. He’d be just as harsh to you as before.

The matter would inflame a whole new sort of curiosity in Prussia. He’d observe you more sharply than ever before. What other secrets would you be hiding. Had he missed something that was also essential? It would become a whole new game for Gilbert, to test your mettle and explore your character.

Romano

He would probably find out after taking a pot-shot at you from where he’d be lurking in the shadows, a sniper rifle at hand. Romano would have been waiting for the moment where he could finally capture you. Having waited until you where all alone, he wouldn’t have to worry about others interfering with what would commence. He would just have to spirit you away before you’d regenerate and wake up from the bullet to your heart. Needless to say, he wouldn’t be all sunshine and joy when he’d find out what you are. Being left out on secrets is painful and his obsession with you would only amplify that pain.

Once you’d wake up at his mercy, he’d have a stern word or two with you. Although, now that he’d know that you’re actually a woman, he’d be more mannered than usual. Even before he would have cussed less around you than by other men. Now he would be the epitome of gentlemanly charm, despite having you in chains.

Very firmly he’d be of the position that his lover doesn’t belong on the battlefield. Your protests would fall on deaf ears in his case and you being a woman would only be a reaffirmation to him that you shouldn’t fight. Additionally, he’d also use the chance to persuade you into remaining at his side. Lovino would point out that while he accepted who you are without any conditions, you had to hide a big part of your identity from your own people. So, why not stay with him, eh?

Veneziano

The news would send Veneziano in a fit of childish rage. You shouldn’t keep secrets from him! You shouldn’t be on the battlefield to begin with! You should be with him, under his control, under his jurisdiction. To him, it would be another heresy committed against him.

After a lot of tears and some tantrums and even feelings of remorse for having injured you, he would begin to plot how he could use this new-found information to his advantage. He would take to deducing other things about your personality and would build his plan on top of them, even if his presumptions would be false.

Feliciano would act upon his ideas that because you had chosen the battlefield rather than electing to pulling strings from the shadows, that you’d be a straight-forward person that could be ruthless but preferred direct confrontation over subversion. To him, you wouldn’t be so skilled at politicking and kingmaking as the ladies of court, unlike him.

Out of that reason, he would take the war to a setting that he is more familiar with: the negotiation table. Italy would use his silver tongue and skills at manipulation to ensnare you. Meanwhile, he go ahead to humiliate you in front of your countrymen, spilling your secrets and crying that war is no place for a woman. Whether or not his antics would be genuine or not is a whole other question entirely.

#yandere hetalia #yandere axis #yandere germany #yandere prussia #yandere japan #yandere romano #yandere italy #x reader #x country!reader #yandere hetalia x reader